Thomson to test power of Google+ Hangouts and Twitter in socmed trial

Thomson, a part of the UK largest travel firm Tui Travel, is to trial Google+ Hangouts as a way to communicate with customers before they travel.

A live video Hangout will be offered to holidaymakers preparing to visit Thomson’s exclusive Sensatori Resort in Crete this month.

They will be able to discuss their trip with an iAdvisor and share their thoughts and ask questions on social media with a dedicated Twitter hashtag #SensatoriCrete while in resort.

Google+ is the search engine’s answer to rival Facebook, and although it has been well received by internet afficionados, doubts have been raised about how extensively used it is.

Understandably Google has been touting the network as an ideal tool for firms like travel agents to talk directly to customers and to inspire them to book a holiday.

Thomson hopes its customers will engage through the medium to find out more information before they travel and to meet with fellow holidaymakers before leaving home.

Ian Chapman, director of holiday experiences at Thomson, said: “We’re always looking for innovative and unique ways to deliver the best experience for our customers.

“What better way to get excited about your holiday than to virtually meet with your Thomson holiday iAdvisor via a Google+ Hangout and have a friendly chat about where you’ll be staying and what you can do while you’re there?”

“Using Google+ Hangouts and Twitter hashtags is the perfect way to share our team’s outstanding local knowledge and experience, but in a way that appeals to our more tech savvy customers.”

All Thomson iAdvisors will be equipped with a tablet computer to ensure they’re easy to reach wherever they are in the resort.

Thomson said it will roll out the Holiday Hangouts and hashtags across its Sensatori Resorts later this year if the initial trial proves successful.